Names not of their era

[pitterypattery00]

Do you have a name that is unusual for its era (in that it's usually associated with people born at a different time)? Did you like having a 'different' name. If it subsequently became more popular, was that a positive thing?

My own name firmly dates me to my era (late 70s/early 80s) so I don't have personal experience. But as a child I knew children my age called Dorothy, Edith, Frances, Roy, Ronald, and Norma. They generally disliked their names and other kids viewed them as very uncool names. There was also an Olivia - her name was seen as unusual and very posh!

I ask because on baby name threads it's often seen as a negative if names are very popular/trendy/rising up the charts, and one of the reasons given is that it will become dated. But maybe children are happy having a name that is similar in style to their peers?

[MysticCT]

My name is dated to the 1940's, but I was born in the seventies. I have never met anybody my age called the same name, they are always much older.
I absolutely hate it, I always wanted to be called one of the popular names. I would have loved to have had a name from my generation.

[WeasilyPleased]

My name was very unusual when I was born, then it got a bit popular.
Can't say it bothered me either way.

[HappyGoDucky]

My name (well known name) was more common I the 40s and 50s. I was born late 70s, everyone's mum had my name 😂 my name is a but meh, I'm quite neutral to it but love the diminutive that I'm generally known by.

[NurseBernard]

I was given a very ‘old lady’ name in the early/mid 70s. I was named after my paternal grandmother who had died before I was born.

My middle name was after my maternal grandmother - it is a simple, one-syllable name. My parents were really back and forth about giving me my first name. They ended up going with it, on the basis that I could always opt for my middle name, if I really disliked my first name. That’s how ‘out there’ they thought it was.

Not long after I was born, so my Dad says, a load of old ladies with my name popped their clogs and they appeared in the obituaries. My parents really thought they’d made an awful mistake lumbering me with this name.

I admit, I didn’t like it at all growing up. I was never able to buy any plastic tat with my name on it (a big deal when you’re 7). And every time I was introduced to a bloke of a certain age (it was always only blokes, and always of a certain age), they’d chortle and say ‘necessary on a bike?’ like they were the first person to think up that tedious joke.

Fast forward 20-odd years and I got together with my first serious boyfriend who absolutely loved my name (said it’s the ‘name of beautiful women’), and it was an absolute revelation to me.

Then, suddenly, little girls started being born and given the name (or one of its variations - there’s the Scottish, French, Spanish and Italian spellings).

And now the name appears in all the ‘is this name too popular?’ threads.

So my parents were just a generation ahead of their time.

In short - I disliked the name growing up. But I love it now. I love that connection to my grandmother I never got to meet (and who I look just like). And I also love not having a somewhat tired/dated name from my generation.

If you go down this route, you have to be strategic, though. Theres’s really knowing which names are going to take off again, and which are going to sink like a stone….

[eggandonion]

My name was popular about 50 years before I was born, it is loved on mumsnet. I hate it. I wanted to be Alison, Gail, Caroline, Gillian...

[eggandonion]

My name was popular about 50 years before I was born, it is loved on mumsnet. I hate it. I wanted to be Alison, Gail, Caroline, Gillian...

[MaryBeardsShoes]

I have a name that was popular in 30s and 40s, but has never made a come-back. It's very frumpy, and does me no favours as a very plain person. I hate it!

[Sleepyquest]

My name was extremely unusual when I was growing up. I only ever met one or two others. But then it became hugely popular when I was in my mid twenties and now is very common to hear.
I hated it growing up, don't mind it so much now

[RedDiamond]

My name was at its highest peak in 1974. So funny! I was born years before that and I was named after an Italian Roman Catholic because of my parents religion obviously.

2022 and only 10 children are named after me so far!

[Timeforausernamechange22]

According to the ONS my name appears to have peaked about 20yrs before I was born. I hate it. I’ve always hated it. I always wanted a cool name like my peers had. I was envious of all the Kelly’s/Gemma’s/Hayley’s of the 80s.
but I also think it’s because I like more feminine sounding names with soft endings (a’s, y’s and e’s). Mine has a very hard ending to it and that is what I dislike most

[robocracker]

I was born 1977. My name is that rarity of a real classic and still used today. At school there was the odd one or two but never really popular. The same in my kids schools now. (Although my best friends daughter has my name by chance!)

My kids have old lady names though. Not the popular ones like Elsie etc. I think they're classic names but not everyone agrees! One is particularly associated with religion so I've only really heard it from churchy people, one is a unisex name (same as my dads) but has a cool nickname and one is a long name that is usually shortened.

I think in their generation there's such a variety of names anyway nothing seems that unusual. My middle girl goes to school with someone called Basil!!

Also by choosing what I say are old lady names at least their friends mums won't be called that! Their mums all seem to be called Nicki and Emma.

Most of their friends have classic names too think Emily, Chloe, Lauren, Sophie... so more popular than my girls but their names fit in quite well.

[wingsofabird]

Yes @pitterypattery00 really interesting point
I'm in my 30s and there was a Philip Richard Sue and Colin at school and it felt really uncool. I think when it's a name just 1 generation up (as in a mum or a dad name) then it's seen as not cool, or it used to be at least
interesting

[Salamander91]

My name was outdated by about 20 years but it doesn't really bother me. It's not a bad name just peaked in popularity in the 70s.

[RosesAndHellebores]

My name is of the posh and unusual genre - have only ever met one other. I dreamed about being called Susan. My middle name was old lady and is now very very popular. Born 1960.

My DC have classic names. DD's was unusual.classic in 1998. Then everyone was given it. Both DC would like more unusual names.

I guess the grass is always greener.

[covilha]

Love my name- it’s an ethnic variant of an English name, the English version was very popular when I was growing up. Lots of people tell me their mother had my name; this somehow makes me feel very honoured whilst making me want to live up to their expectations of someone sharing their mother’s name
Only once met someone else with my name, when I was a teenager

[covilha]

PS. Basil’s are cool!

[Mumofgirls2017]

I agree. Worse to have. A dated name than one that’s popular. I do know a Violet who is 30’s though and think that’s very cool!

[Tsuni]

@NurseBernard

I was given a very ‘old lady’ name in the early/mid 70s. I was named after my paternal grandmother who had died before I was born.

My middle name was after my maternal grandmother - it is a simple, one-syllable name. My parents were really back and forth about giving me my first name. They ended up going with it, on the basis that I could always opt for my middle name, if I really disliked my first name. That’s how ‘out there’ they thought it was.

Not long after I was born, so my Dad says, a load of old ladies with my name popped their clogs and they appeared in the obituaries. My parents really thought they’d made an awful mistake lumbering me with this name.

I admit, I didn’t like it at all growing up. I was never able to buy any plastic tat with my name on it (a big deal when you’re 7). And every time I was introduced to a bloke of a certain age (it was always only blokes, and always of a certain age), they’d chortle and say ‘necessary on a bike?’ like they were the first person to think up that tedious joke.

Fast forward 20-odd years and I got together with my first serious boyfriend who absolutely loved my name (said it’s the ‘name of beautiful women’), and it was an absolute revelation to me.

Then, suddenly, little girls started being born and given the name (or one of its variations - there’s the Scottish, French, Spanish and Italian spellings).

And now the name appears in all the ‘is this name too popular?’ threads.

So my parents were just a generation ahead of their time.

In short - I disliked the name growing up. But I love it now. I love that connection to my grandmother I never got to meet (and who I look just like). And I also love not having a somewhat tired/dated name from my generation.

If you go down this route, you have to be strategic, though. Theres’s really knowing which names are going to take off again, and which are going to sink like a stone….

I'm guessing Isobel

[caringcarer]

I am the forth daughter and my parents let my older sisters name me. There is a bit of a gap between them and me. At one point my sister's wanted to call me Tinkerbelle. At least parents stopped that one.

[doggiescats]

My daughter is late 20s …she grew up without knowing anyone with her name and she got so cross because you couldn’t buy anything with her name on!!
Her name is now very popular ..top 50 and her daughter now has another unusual name 🤔😂

[Marcipex]

My name was very dated/frumpy/difficult to spell. I hated it. I was teased and was very resentful.
I can’t say that I wanted to be Helen, Catherine, Jenny, like most of my class. I would have liked something elegant.

[Nogardenersworld]

It’s ok to be on the upturn
but not the end of a trend
if I hear I’m going to meet a Sharon or a lisa, or a Jodie or Gemma I have an expectation of how old they are. And unless they’re significantly younger or look incredible, that’s really going to age someone and I always think it must be a shame

and it’s really jarring if the names are Middle Aged men, baby Gary, or Ian for example, though I imagine they’ll be back in a few years

[EL8888]

No one had my name when l was born, l was in my 20’s before l met someone with my name. It’s now quite popular, girls / women with that band are usually at the tail end of school or mid 20’s at the most

[groovergirl]

DD is Virginia, which was last in the Top 50 back in the 1920s. I've always loved the name and thought it very cool. In her cohort the names Georgia, Olivia, Sienna and Victoria are popular, so a Virginia, aka Ginny, fits in well. She's the only Virginia in her school of 1200, but she seems to like that.

[groovergirl]

@Marcipex

My name was very dated/frumpy/difficult to spell. I hated it. I was teased and was very resentful.
I can’t say that I wanted to be Helen, Catherine, Jenny, like most of my class. I would have liked something elegant.

What name would you have liked, Marcipex? You can change your name at any time. Choose something elegant and do it!